Sleep: A crucial factor in your return to health and wellbeing

Sleep is often a crucial component in a client treatment plan. I often explain to my Ottawa clients, "If you don’t sleep well, you're not going to return to optimal health and wellbeing no matter how good your diet and exercise are.

Maintaining a natural rhythm of exposure to daylight, and darkness at night, is an essential component of sleeping well.

Light is important because it serves as the major synchronizer of something called your master clock. Other biological clocks throughout your body in turn synchronize to your master clock.

To maintain and “anchor” your master clock, you want to get bright outdoor light exposure for 30-60 minutes a day, ideally at solar noon. Sleep in maximal darkness. Blackout shades or a sleep mask is recommended.

In the evening, avoid the blue light wavelength. This can be done by using blue-blocking light bulbs, dimming your lights, and if using a computer, installing a blue light-blocking software.

Dominick Hussey

Osteopath and Functional Medicine Practitioner

Osteopathy and Functional Medicine

Ottawa Health Wellness Centre